Archive for February, 2023

Matt Hardy on Jeff: ‘He’s committed himself to getting better’

On Thursday, Jeff Hardy’s 2022 DUI case was closed.

The same day, a special AdFreeShow for Patreons only episode of The Extreme Life of Matt Hardy was released. One of the questions was asking for an update on Jeff. The episode was recorded a day ahead of Jeff’s court date.

“He’s doing great. (…) He just wants to get this all behind him. Y’know, they feel like they’re in a pretty good position because he’s done like, all the work necessary. Rehab for many, many days. He did outpatient treatment for months. He has really dedicated himself and he’s committed himself to getting better. And the biggest barometer — my biggest judge — is how happy his wife is with him and where his life is. Every time I’ve talked to him, he’s been very good, very positive.”

What’s next for Jeff Hardy

Jeff Hardy
(via AEW)

While it’s too early to say if Jeff ever returns to AEW or wrestling in general, he may potentially have something lined up with his brother outside of the ring.

“Actually, I had a very long conversation with him today about some stuff myself and Reby are working on as far as business goes about expanding the House Hardy brand. He was definitely on board, he just has to get past this. (…) He just wants to get it all behind him and try and right his wrongs. He’s just, so to say — I can’t really compare these because they’re different things — but he’s ready to like pay his penance and move past it and begin anew.”

Early on Friday morning, Matt also tweeted about how proud he is of his brother. He praised how hard Jeff has worked on himself over the last nine months.

We hope for the best for Jeff Hardy moving forward.

Jeff Hardy June 2022 DUI Case Closed

It appears as if Jeff Hardy’s recent court case has been closed.

According to records from the Volusia County Clerk of Circuit Court, Jeff Hardy’s DUI case stemming from an incident in June 2022 was closed on Thursday, February 23, 2023.

Following ‘unreliable breath test results’, a motion to suppress was filed this past Monday on February 21, 2023:

  • 20. Mr. Hardy’s breath tests did not comply with FDLE’s requirements established in FDLE’s administrative rules to ensure reliable quantitative breath tests.
  • 21. There is insufficient probative evidence that the breath tests in Mr. Jeff Hardy‘s case were performed substantially in accordance with methods approved by FDLE and with a compliant machine approved by FDLE.
  • 22. For the above reasons, this Court should enter an order excluding any evidence of a breath test and breath test results obtained in this case.

On the morning on Wednesday, February 23, 2023, Jeff Hardy signed a written plea of ‘no contest’ for the charges of 3rd DUI offense in the last 10 years, driving with a suspended license, and causing a driving violation with a restricted driver’s license.

Jeff Hardy was credited with 38 days served in jail and will be on probation for two years (24 months), and fined $4,000 with an additional $586 to cover court costs. Hardy’s driver’s license has been suspended for 10 years and has had his vehicle impounded for 90 days.

Jeff Hardy was originally arrested on June 13, 2022 in Volusia County, Florida and was charged with DUI, driving with a suspended driver’s license, and allegedly violated restrictions that were placed on his driver’s license. The following day on June 14, 2022, Hardy was subsequently suspended without pay by AEW and it was noted that he cannot return to the company until he completes substance abuse treatment and rehabilitation.

SEScoops will provide any updates on the condition and status of Jeff Hardy as they become available.

Impact Wrestling Results (2/23/23): Monster’s Ball Match, Beat The Clock Challenges

The Feb. 23 episode of Impact Wrestling aired on AXS TV at 8 PM EST/5 PM PT.

The episode saw X Division Champion Trey Miguel defend his title against Crazzy Steve in a Monster’s Ball match. Impact Wrestling had built the feud up for several weeks when Steve confronted Miguel on the Jan. 26 episode. The episode also had Bully Ray and Tommy Dreamer compete in Beat the Clock Challenges to determine who would speak first at their live Busted Open show at No Surrender on Feb. 24.

Impact Wrestling also aired on their Youtube channel for Impact Insider subscribers. The company offers a monthly subscription to watch weekly episodes on Youtube for $1.49. Unfortunately, it aired at 8:30 PM ET/5:30 PM PT.

If you would like more results for this week’s events in wrestling, please check back on our results section.

Impact Wrestling Results (2/23)

We started the episode with Miguel and Steve locked in their rooms as they prepared for Monster’s Ball.

“Speedball” Mike Bailey & Jonathan Gresham vs. Motor City Machine Guns(Chris Sabin & Alex Shelley)

The match started with Jonathan Gresham and Alex Shelley. They tried to outpace each other until Gresham caught Shelley in a Dragon Leg Whip in the corner. Gresham brought his opponent to his corner and tagged in Mike Bailey to start working on his leg. Bailey Irish Whipped Shelley on his side, which Chris Sabin blind tagged in to land a Chop Block/Clothesline combo with Shelley.

Sabin worked over Bailey briefly but tagged Shelley back into the match. Shelley beat down Bailey and tagged Sabin back in. They tried to go for a tag team move, but Bailey counterd to tag in Gresham. Sabin and Gresham exchanged forearm strikes in the middle of the ring until Gresham hit Sabin with a kick to the gut. He Irish Whipped Sabin to a corner, and Shelley tried to help his partner by kicking Gresham. However, Gresham caught the kick and swung it to Sabin and hit him with a Enzugiri, which made Sabin land a Dragon Leg Whip on his partner.

Gresham tried to pin Sabin, but Shelley stopped him. Bailey tried to help but gets thrown out the ring. Sabin picked up Gresham in a Fireman’s Carry, and Shelley did an assisted neckbreaker. They followed it up with the Magic Killer for a two-count. Sabin tried to go for a Suplex, but Gresham countered with his Suplex on his opponent. Gresham and Sabin tagged out to their partners, but Bailey started to take control of Shelley. Sabin tried to help his partner, but Bailey took care of them. Bailey put Shelley in a Leg Lock and Sabin tried to go after him. Still holding on to Shelley, Bailey caught Sabin and did a Spinning Brainbuster and kept his hold on Shelley.

Shelley can make it to the ropes to break the hold. The action continued as both teams tried to gain the advantage. The match finished when The Motor City Machine Guns landed the Dirt Bomb on Gresham, and Sabin pinned him for the win.

We get a video package promoting the Impact World Championship match between Rich Swann and champ Josh Alexander at No Surrender.

We get a backstage promo with Deanna Purrazzo warning Gisele Shaw, who she faces at No Surrender.

Tommy Dreamer vs. Jason Hotch- Beat the Clock Challenge

Jason Hotch started the match by taking advantage of his speed against Dreamer. He hit a neckbreaker on Dreamer for a one-count. Hotch tried to go to the top rope but got stopped by Dreamer. Dreamer hit the Death Valley Driver from the top rope to beat Hotch in 1:15.

Allysin Kay with Marti Belle vs. Taya Valkyrie with Jessicka & Rosemary

Allysin Kay tried to go after Taya Valkyrie, but Valkyrie sent her to the corner. They exchanged blows in the corner, but Valkyrie landed a big chop on her opponent. Valkyrie Irish Whipped Kay, but Kay countered with a Clothesline. Kay tried to run the ropes but got caught with a Back Elbow. Valkyrie did a Snapmare into a unique Armbar, but Kay put her foot on the rope. Kay tried to gain momentum on her side but got caught with a Spear for a two-count.

Valkyrie continued to control the match until we went to a commercial break. However, when we returned from break, Kay controlled the match(We don’t see how she turned things around). It doesn’t last long as Valkyrie rallied back into the match. She landed a Blue Thunder Bomb for a near fall. Valkyrie followed up with an STF submission, but Kay got to the ropes. The finish came when Marti Bells distracted Valkyrie, which lead to Kay landing the AK47 for the win.

We had a contract signing backstage between Swann and Alexander. The champion tried to walk away with the title. However, Swann stopped him to apologize for accidentally kicking him last week. Alexander said it’s not a problem and that Swann doesn’t have it in him to attack Alexander like that. Swann took offense as he feels Alexander doesn’t think Swann can do what he needs to beat him. Steve Maclin interrupted their talk and told them that he will face the winner after he wins the Fatal Four Way number one contender match at No Surrender. Maclin called Swann a choke arrest, which led to Maclin and Swann getting into a brawl until it’s broken up by backstage officials.

Deaner & Sami Callihan with The Design(Kon & Alan Angels) vs. Frankie Kazarian & Yuya Uemura

The match started with Frankie Kazarian and Deaner until Deaner tagged in Sami Callihan. Deaner yelled at Callihan to take him out, which led to Kazarian telling him to shut up. Callihan took the opportunity to hit Kazarian and beat him down briefly. However, Deaner yelled at his partner to tag him back in.

Deaner started to work over Kazarian until he got caught with three Arm Drags and a big Clothesline from Kazarian. Kazarian tagged Yuya Uemura, and they landed a tag team move on Deaner for a two-count. Uemura started to work on Deaner’s arm, but Deaner grabbed his hair and sent him to the corner to Callihan. After Deaner tagged out, Callihan gouged the eyes of Uemura. Callihan and Deaner tagged in and out to control their opponent. Uemura and Callihan are the legal men in the ring and Uemura caught his opponent with a Pele Kick. Uemura tried to tag out, but Kon hit Kazarian with a Clothesline outside of the ring, while the referee is distracted.

Callihan tagged Deaner to go to the top rope for a Diving Headbutt. However, Deaner missed, and Uemura tagged in Kazarian. Deaner tagged in Callihan, but Kazarian started to get the better of him. Alan Angels distract Kazarian for Callihan to land an Exploder Suplex. Callihan tagged in Deaner, and they tried to go for a tag team move, but Kazarian countered to tag in his partner.

Uemura took offense to both of his opponents. He went to the top rope and landed a Crossbody on Deaner for a pin, but Callihan stopped the count. Callihan and Kazarian tagged in the match as both teams struggled to take control of the match. Callihan prepared to go for the Cactus Driver on Kazarian, but Deaner yelled at his partner to tag him in. He went to tag Deaner, but his partner left the ring apron. Kazarian took advantage and put Callihan in the Crossface Chicken Wing for the submission win.

We get a video package hyping up Impact Knockout Champion Mickie James defending her title against Masha Slamovich at No Surrender.

We got a backstage segment with Callihan confronting Deaner for leaving him. Deaner told him it’s part of his steps to join The Design. Callihan expressed his loyalty to The Design. Deaner said that Callihan has two more steps left before being a member.

Bully Ray vs. Bhupinder Gujjar- Beat The Clock Challenge

The match ended quickly as Hotch and John Skyler distracted the referee and Gujjar. As the referee is distracted, Ray hit his opponent with a steel chain to win in 0:45 to win the Beat the Clock Challenge.

We get a backstage segment with Gujjar and Dreamer. Dreamer motivated Gujjar and says he won because Ray had to cheat.

(C) Trey Miguel vs. Crazzy Steve- Monster’s Ball match for the X-Division Championship

The match started with Steve taking Miguel down with an STO. The challenger fought Miguel outside the ring as we cut to a commercial break. We come back from back to see four chairs set up. Steve lands a Suplex on Miguel through the chairs, but the champion counters, and Steve gets caught with a Drop Toe Hold into the chairs.

Miguel picked up Steve, who is also busted open. The champion tried to hit Steve with a chair to the face against the ring post, but Steve moved. Miguel tried to run at his opponent but got caught with a Back Body Drop through the chairs. They rolled back into the ring, and before Steve can capitalize, he got caught with a Dropkick by Miguel. The X-Division Champion went outside to get more weapons. He tried to hit his opponent with a trash can, but Steve used a Staple Gun to the groin of Miguel. He followed up his attack by put the trash can over the head of the champion, put him in the corner and landed the cannonball on Miguel. We go to another commercial break.

We returned from a commercial break with Steve trying to attack Miguel with a fork. The champion stopped him and landed a Neckbreaker. Miguel took the Fork and tried to stab his opponent’s eye unsuccessfully. He settled with landing a Double Foot Stomp. The X-Division Champion went to get thumbtacks and spread them in the center of the ring. He tried to run at Steve in the corner, but his opponent caught him with a strike. Steve landed the Black Hole Slam on Miguel into the thumbtacks and goes for the pin. Before the referee can count three, Steve stopped the pin to punish Miguel more.

However, Miguel kicked Steve to the point where he was on his knee near the Thumbtacks and landed a double foot stomp to have his opponent land chest first into it. The champion went for the cover but got a two-count. Miguel went to the floor for a table to place the weapon in the corner. They both tried to avoid crashing into the table until they simultaneously landed a Clothesline falling into the thumbtacks.

They both went outside for a weapon. Miguel got a spike, and Steve got Janice(a spiked wooden object). Steve missed Miguel with Janice but caught him in a Death Valley Driver through the table in the corner for the near fall. Steve went to bring chairs into the ring and positions it near the center of the ring. The champion recovered to hit Steve in the gut with a chair, but Steve fought back. Steve put Miguel on the top rope, but Miguel slid underneath him to hit his opponent with a Superkick and a Tiger Feint Kick. While Steve is down, the champion went to the top rope. However, the challenger recovered and tried to go after Miguel, but the champion jumped and rolled from the top rope into the thumbtacks.

Steve followed up with a Canadian Destroyer on Miguel into a chair and thumbtacks. While laying in the thumbtacks, Steve briefly did a snow angel and pinned Miguel for a two count. The challenger used Janice to scrape Miguel’s forehead. Steve took the champion to the ring apron as a wooden board with barbed wire is laid on top of chairs. Before Steve could slam Miguel through it, the champion hit Steve in the groin and landed the Roll of the Dice through the wooden board with barbed wire. Miguel put Steve back in the ring to pin for the win.

WWE Cautious About Balancing Cody Rhodes’ Storyline with Sami Zayn’s Popularity

Sami Zayn’s immense popularity has reportedly become cause for concern behind-the-scenes in WWE.

At WrestleMania 39, Undisputed WWE Universal Champion Roman Reigns will lock horns with Royal Rumble-winner Cody Rhodes. ‘The American Nightmare’ has been a big hit with WWE audiences since he returned at last year’s WrestleMania.

Cody Rhodes backstage at Royal Rumble

Rhodes’ Hell in a Cell bout with Seth Rollins last year solidified him as a top dog in waiting. His return last month was greeted with huge cheers and his segments with Paul Heyman and Sami Zayn in the weeks since have garnered critical acclaim.

However, Zayn’s own rise to babyface stardom appears to be threatening Rhodes’. After a slow-burning run as ‘The Honorary Uce’ in The Bloodline, Zayn turned on faction head Roman Reigns at the Royal Rumble. The segment and subsequent feud between the pair was highlighted as a strong ratings mover for WWE in 2023.

Sami Zayn at Elimination Chamber

While the rivalry seemingly came to an end at Elimination Chamber, there are concerns that Zayn’s connection with the audience could potentially derail the Reigns/Rhodes build.

“They Were Very Concerned About Sami Chants” – Dave Meltzer On Cody Rhodes Segment

On a recent edition of the Wrestling Observer Newsletter, Dave Meltzer discussed the segment Cody Rhodes had with Paul Heyman on this week’s RAW. He revealed that the pacing of the segment was designed to give fans little breathing room to potentially launch chants for Sami Zayn into the situation.

“The stuff with Cody and Heyman – they [WWE] were very concerned about Sami chants, which is one of the reasons why they got Heyman out there in seconds. They did not want Cody in there by himself because they thought that – it didn’t happen – but they did everything in their power to make sure they kept that moving, they did not allow the audience a chance to start chanting or anything like that, it was just back-and-forth.”

Meltzer went on to add that the general consensus is that Zayn chants potentially hijacking the show would hinder Rhodes’ momentum.

“It was designed to give the audience no chance to chant because of the feeling that if they did it would hurt Cody’s momentum. And perhaps it would, and then it could create that groundswell [for Zayn] which is exactly what they don’t want right now.”

‘The American Nightmare’ himself later commented on the segment. Seemingly in kayfabe at first, Rhodes joked about the segment being cut short due to Heyman getting under his skin during the exchange. The son of a son of a plumber then made mention of his high merchandise sales of late.

Do you think Cody Rhodes will go over Roman Reigns at WrestleMania?

All quotes from WrestleTalk.

Top WWE SmackDown Star Rumored for WrestleMania Angle at Monday’s Raw

WWE has added SmackDown star Ronda Rousey to the lineup for Monday’s episode of Raw.

Both WWE’s Events website and the Van Del Arena website are advertising Rousey for the show from Grand Rapids, Michigan. As of this writing, Shayna Baszler is not currently listed for the show, although that doesn’t mean she won’t be there with her good friend. 

As of this writing, WWE has not officially announced Rousey for the show.  WWE Women’s Tag Team Champions Dakota Kai and IYO SKY are scheduled to defend against Becky Lynch and WWE Hall of Famer Lita on Monday’s Raw. 

The Angle

It’s been reported that Rousey and Baszler are expected to challenge Kai and SKY for the titles at WrestleMania 39 this April so it’s possible that WWE shoots an angle to set up the future title match on this show. 

Here is the updated card for Monday’s episode: 

  • WWE Women’s Tag Team Champion Damage CTRL (Dakota Kai & IYO SKY) vs. Becky Lynch & Lita
  • Asuka vs. Carmella
  • Candice LeRae vs. Piper Niven
  • Will Brock Lesnar show up and accept Omos’ challenge to a match at WrestleMania?
  • WrestleMania edition of Miz TV

WWE NXT Star Waiting on Creative Plans for Main Roster Call-Up

Cameron Grimes is on the sidelines while waiting to see what WWE comes up with creatively for him on the main roster. 

The WWE NXT star has not wrestled since November 8, 2022, when he lost a singles match to Joe Gacy on an episode of Joe Gacy. WWE originally planned for him to be called up after the feud ended. However, that hasn’t happened. 

Dave Meltzer reported on Wrestling Observer Radio that WWE creative has nothing for him and Grimes is waiting for that to change, but he is done with NXT. 

Creative has Nothing for You

“Cameron Grimes was finishing up in NXT because he was being called to the main roster and right now what’s going on is that they are waiting for an idea on the main roster so he’s in limbo,” Meltzer stated (H/T to F4Wonline.com). “He’s finished with NXT, he’s supposed to be on the main roster but they don’t have a story for him so they haven’t debuted him yet and they’re waiting to come up with a story for him.”

In October on an episode of Main Event, Grimes beat Akira Tozawa. Since then, he’s only wrestled two matches. 

Before going to WWE, he found success in Impact Wrestling as he is a three-time X-Division Champion, and once won the TNA Tag Team Titles along with Brian Myers. In WWE, he’s a former NXT North American Champion.

AEW Revolution Updated Card: Championship Match and More Announced

All Elite Wrestling has announced new matches for their upcoming Revolution pay-per-view event on March 5, 2023, at the Chase Center in San Francisco, California during this week’s Dynamite. 

Jamie Hayter will defend her AEW Women’s Championship against Saraya, and Ruby Soho in a triple threat match. This comes after Soho’s loyalty has been the focal point of a storyline between Saraya and Toni Storm as outsiders, a play on their WWE history, against hometown talent such as Hayter and Britt Baker. Now, Soho will have to decide which side she’s on. 

Also confirmed for the show is Chris Jericho vs.Ricky Starks in a bout where “everyone” will be banned from ringside. This comes after Starks beat Jericho last month on Dynamite while Jericho scored a victory against Starks and Action Andretti in a recent tag team bout.

For the last several weeks, Starks has since been feuding with the Jericho Appreciation Society. 

AEW Revolution Card

  • AEW World Heavyweight Champion MJF vs. Bryan Danielson – Sixty Minute Iron Man Match.
  • AEW Tag Team Champions The Gunn Club vs. The Acclaimed vs. Jeff Jarrett & Jay Lethal vs. TBA
  • AEW TNT Champion Samoa Joe vs. Wardlow.
  • Jon Moxley vs. Hangman Page – Texas Death Match.
  • Chris Jericho vs. Ricky Starks – Everyone is banned from ringside
  • AEW Women’s World Champion Jamie Hayter vs. Ruby Soho vs. Saraya

Ric Flair Has Made Big Money on Cameo

Ric Flair has found success in a lot of different ventures throughout his career, whether it’s pro wrestling, his To Be The Man podcast, and cannabis line, Ric Flair Drip.

The WWE Hall of Famer has also made a significant amount of money on Cameo. 

The 16-time world champion was discussing his promo skills on a recent edition of his To Be The Man podcast when he noted that he was so good at speaking that he made a lot of money while doing two-minute messages on the Cameo platform before revealing that he made $700,000 over 21 months.

Show Me The Money

“Listen, I made $700,000 doing Cameos. They’re just a minute long [laughs]. That’s just talking for two minutes. That is 21 months,” Flair said.

The legendary wrestler proceeded to show the camera the front of his phone that revealed he had made $669,000 on Cameo. He joked with co-host Conrad Thompson about how fans were saying that Flair returned to the ring last July at Ric Flair’s Last Match in 2022 because he needed the money.

Flair’s most recent appearance on WWE television came when he introduced his daughter, Charlotte, on the Raw 30 Anniversary show. 

H/T to Fightful for the transcription

Pat McAfee Uncertain About WWE Future Amid Ongoing Sales Talks

Pat McAfee has proven to be a hit with fans as part of the WWE SmackDown commentary team, but will a new owner push Pat out of the company?

The former NFL punter began serving as a guest commentator for WWE NXT TakeOver events in 2018, before signing with the promotion the following February.

In 2021, McAfee was moved to the SmackDown commentary table, but has been absent as of late due to his commitments to ESPN’s College Game Day.

In addition to commentary, McAfee has had a handful of matches in WWE, with his most recent bout seeing him defeat Baron Corbin at Summerslam 2022.

Unsure

At the WWE 2023 Royal Rumble, McAfee made his surprise return to commentary but did not appear on the following edition of SmackDown.

In a tweet, McAfee reflected on various parts of his life, including his role with WWE.

The Smackdown commentator said that while he loves working for WWE, the possibility of a new owner could make him reconsider his position with the promotion.

“Baby girl on the way… what’s that mean for my future with @WWE? I LOVE it but, they’re allegedly gonna be sold, who’s buying them? Do I want to work/make money for those people?”

Pat McAfee.

Other Plans

Of course, WWE is just part of McAfee’s life, and he has various successful ventures away from the ring.

Speaking about College Game Day, McAfee called it a “good time” but acknowledged that there was no long-term deal in place.

McAfee also spoke about reports of a defamation lawsuit from Bret Farve, saying that he is “allegedly” being sued.

MJF’s AEW Dynamite Promo About Fiance Leaving Him Was Not a Work (Report)

AEW World Champion Maxwell Jacob Friedman’s recent comments about his engagement to Naomi Rosenblum being ended were not just part of the show during Dynamite.

During Dynamite, MJF hyped up his upcoming title defense at AEW Revolution against Bryan Danielson, which will be the promotion’s first sixty-minute Iron Man match.

The upcoming title defense will mark MJF’s first title defense on Pay-Per-View since capturing the AEW World Championship last November at Full Gear 2022.

Ended Engagement

During his promo on Dynamite, MJF called himself a guy who has got stranded by, and looked down upon by everyone he once looked up to.

The Salt of the Earth added that he met a girl (Rosenblum) who was his only source of comfort, only for her to leave him as well.

This comment left fans questioning whether their engagement has really ended, and both MJF and Rosenblum have unfollowed one another on Instagram.

Taking to Twitter, Sean Ross Sapp of Fightful confirmed that MJF’s comments about his engagement being ended by Rosenblum was honest.

MJF and Rosenblum announced their engagement in September of last year, with the always-in-character AEW star saying that other women shouldn’t worry, and that “just cuz there’s a goalie doesn’t mean you can’t score.”

What Else Was Said?

In his promo, Friedman also addressed Bryan Danielson’s children, saying he would rip their father’s arm out of its socket and ensure he could never play with them again.

He stated that during their Iron Man match, he would make sure that he could never use his arm to pick them up again and that he would also land multiple shots to his head as a present.

Danielson interrupted the promo by taking MJF down, resulting in a brawl that had to be separated by referees and security guards.

GUNTHER to Face Battle Royal Winner at WWE MSG Event

20 Superstars, including eight former WWE World Champions, will look to earn a shot at GUNTHER’s Intercontinental Championship next month.

Debuting on WWE’s main roster in early 2022, GUNTHER was a stand-out star of last year, and captured the Intercontinental Championship in June.

Recently, the Austrian broke the record for the longest tenure in a traditional Royal Rumble match, reaching over 70 minutes and shattering the record set by Rey Mysterio in 2006.

WWE has announced a special attraction match for the company’s upcoming return to Madison Square Garden:

The names listed for the match are as follows:

Drew McIntyre, Sheamus, The New Day (Kofi Kingston and Xavier Woods,) Rey Mysterio, Bobby Lashley, Finn Balor, The Miz, Damian Priest, Dominik Mysterio, Johnny Gargano, Omos, Dexter Lumis, Bronson Reed, Rick Boogs, Santos Escobar, Braun Strowman, Ricochet, Baron Corbin and Karrion Kross.

Out of the combatants, eight (McIntyre, Sheamus, Kingston, Mysterio, Lashley, Balor, Miz, and Strowman) have held World Championship gold on the main roster.

Eight of the Superstars (McIntyre, Kingston, Mysterio, Lashley, Balor, Miz, Strowman, and Ricochet) are former WWE Intercontinental Champions.

Jon Moxley Makes History On AEW Dynamite with Latest Victory

Jon Moxley already has multiple records to his name in All Elite Wrestling, and now the Blackpool Combat Club member has another accolade.

Since arriving in AEW in 2019, Moxley has become a staple of the brand and is seen as one of the most loyal stars the company employs.

Despite plans for a vacation in late 2022, Moxley cut his time-away short to return following the suspension of CM Punk and the Elite following last year’s All Out

New Record

On this week’s edition of AEW Dynamite, Moxley defeated Evil Uno, dispatching of the Dark Order member with extreme brutality.

With this win, Moxley has accomplished 100 victories in AEW, the first person in the company’s four-year history to do so.

Post-match, Moxley refused to break the hold, which brought out Alex Reynolds and John Silver, and the former World Champion had backup with BCC member Claudio Castagnoli.

It was the arrival of ‘Hangman’ Adam Page that escalated things, and the Cowboy pummeled Moxley, busting him open as the show went off the air.

Page and Moxley will face off at AEW Revolution 2023 next week in a Texas Death Match.

Record Breaker

Achieving 100 wins on AEW programming is an impressive accolade, but is by no means Moxley’s only record.

The former WWE Superstar also holds the record for the most reigns as AEW World Champion, holding the title three times (as well as one Interim title reign.)

Moxley’s three title reigns have also given him the record for the most days as AEW World Champion, holding the title for a collective 347 days (406 days if you include the reign as Interim AEW World Champion.)

Latest on Vince McMahon’s Role with WWE Creative After Shock Return

Is Vince McMahon secretly overseeing WWE’s Creative department now that he is back with the promotion?

Following the billionaire’s retirement last July over misconduct allegations and ‘hush-money’ payouts, Paul ‘Triple H’ Levesque was appointed the new Head of Creative.

It was days later that the Game was appointed WWE’s Head of Talent Relations, replacing John Lauriniatis who was dismissed from the company for his alleged role in the McMahon scandal.

Creative Return

Upon his return to WWE in January 2023, the company frequently told a concerned roster that McMahon was back solely to find a new owner of the promotion.

It was stressed that McMahon would not be resuming his role as part of WWE’s creative team, though a WWE talent who spoke to Sean Ross Sapp has said they believe McMahon is back in creative.

Sapp later shared his own belief that McMahon is not back in charge of Creative, nor does he have a role in the department, stating:

“There are a lot of people that believe that Vince can’t help himself but that’s a lot different than saying well he’s back in creative and he’s definitely guiding this creative. I don’t believe he’s guiding this creative.

“people say ‘Oh, what makes you think that?’ Cause we’re not seeing the same match every week. I don’t think Vince would be able to help himself but to do the same matches every week. That was the most identifying booking point of Vince.”

Sean Ross Sapp.

The Update

In an update from Fightful Select, it was noted that when Sapp reached out to several members of Creative they hadn’t heard anything about Vince being back on the team.

Some of the sources asked for Sapp to inform them if he learns that McMahon is back with the creative team, but nothing has been confirmed so far.

Sapp added that McMahon does have “input” on creative, something Triple H has informed talent, but it is not in any official capacity with the promotion.

Speaking about the initial source, who remains nameless at this time, Sapp said that this member of talent said that they were told Vince is back and there is another power struggle, but nobody would confirm it.

WWE did not respond when Sapp asked for a comment, but a higher-up in the company told him that the tweet above was “absolutely false.”

Sean Ross Sapp added that the source who has claimed McMahon is back in Creative has been honest in the past.

In an update, Wade Keller of PW Torch flat-out refuted the claim that McMahon has a role with WWE’s Creative team.

WWE Superstar Sonya Deville Announces Engagement

Sonya Deville may not have had the best of luck on WWE TV as of late, but the Superstar’s personal life has never been better.

Last year saw Deville’s tenure as an authority figure come to an end, and the former MMA fighter has resumed her role as a full-time member of the WWE roster.

Recently, Deville tried (in vain) to dethrone Charlotte Flair and capture the SmackDown Women’s Championship, which would have been Deville’s first taste of WWE gold if successful.

Engagement

Speaking to People, Deville broke the news of her engagement to girlfriend Toni Cassano, as the wrestler popped the question on February 15, at a wine cellar cave in Towaco, New Jersey.

Deville with understandably excited to speak about the proposal, and add that Cassano had been waiting for the right moment herself.

“I proposed, then Toni’s like: ‘Grab my purse.’ And she pulls out a freaking ring box, and she’s like: ‘I’ve been carrying this around in my purse for four months. So whenever you proposed, I could give you a ring immediately back.'”

Sonya Deville.

Deville began dating Cassano last April, and the pair first met at a WWE event.

“I got her a front-row ticket to my show, and I was going to take her out to dinner after. But I didn’t have time to meet her before the show, so the first time I ever saw Toni was when I was coming out doing my entrance ready to wrestle and I looked into the crowd.”

Sonya Deville.

While the pair first locked eyes at a WWE event in April, Cassano wouldn’t see her future bride emerge victorious, as Deville was winless at WWE shows for the entire month.

Deville went on to say that Cassano’s two daughters also played a role in the proposal.

 “I wanted to make it something that they were super involved in,” she says. “But I also wanted them to be surprised because I wanted them to have a memorable moment too.”

Sonya Deville.

Coming Out

It was during 2015’s edition of WWE Tough Enough that Deville was asked if she had a boyfriend, and publicly came out as lesbian.

The first and to date only openly lesbian WWE Superstar, Deville told People about how much has changed for her since she came out.

“It’s so cool to me to be in this position right now, to be engaged as a gay female in the WWE, and to have proposed to my fiancée.

“I look back at seven years ago, eight years ago when I wasn’t even openly out yet, and I was hiding relationships, and I was still trying to figure out my comfortability with being gay and who I was.”

Sonya Deville.

We here at SEScoops would like to extend our heartfelt congratulations to Sonya and Toni at this joyous time.

Young Bucks vs. Aussie Open, Lance Archer Return Set For 2/24 AEW Rampage

All Elite Wrestling is stacking the deck for the 2/24 edition of AEW Rampage.

During the 2/22 episode of AEW Dynamite, several matches were announced for the ensuing Friday’s edition of Rampage. The show will feature the Young Bucks facing Aussie Open in tag-team action in addition to the in-ring return of ‘The Murderhawk Monster’ Lance Archer.

AEW Rampage (2/23) Updated Card

  • Young Bucks (Matt & Nick Jackson) vs. Aussie Open (Mark Davis & Kyle Fletcher)
  • Sammy Guevara vs. Action Andretti
  • Willow Nightingale vs. Toni Storm
  • The Elite and House of Black Face-to-Face Confrontation
  • We Hear From Keith Lee and Dustin Rhodes
  • Lance Archer’s In-ring Return

Archer hasn’t been featured on AEW programming since he was defeated by Ricky Starks in the AEW World Championship eliminator tournament on the 11/18 episode of AEW Rampage. While Archer’s lengthy absence was rumored to be to nurse some nagging injuries, the man himself noted that him being left off of the company’s programming for the duration of 2023 was ‘not by choice’.

SEScoops’ full report on the 2/22 episode of AEW Dynamite can be found by clicking here.

SEScoops will have complete coverage of the next edition of AEW Rampage on Friday, February 24, beginning at 10:00 p.m. EDT/7:00 p.m. PDT.

AEW “All Access” 1-hour Weekly Show Will Air After Dynamite

AEW and Tony Khan having been teasing an “important announcement by Tony Khan” since last week.

Just minutes before the main event, Tony Khan was backstage with Renee Paquette hyping “huge news”. Khan said it was so huge, that he was letting a “major AEW star” make the announcement. Adam Cole announced that beginning in March, AEW: All Access would air on TBS after AEW Dynamite.

AEW “All Access” is unscripted

Sammy Guevara and Tay Conti

It’s an unscripted series that will follow certain AEW stars. According to Variety, the show will follow Cole, Britt Baker, DMD, Eddie Kingston, Wardlow, Tay Melo, Sammy Guevara, Saraya, Young Bucks, and Khan.

“We’re always looking for new ways to engage with fans and give them unique access to our incredible talent,” Khan said. “With the new ‘AEW: All Access’ series, they’ll have a chance to peek behind the curtain and into the lives of their favorite wrestlers like never before. To show the human side of some of these larger-than-life figures will give fans a rare perspective about who these wrestlers are when the cameras aren’t typically on.”

“AEW has such an amazingly loyal and dedicated fan base that brings in more than 4 million viewers to TBS every Wednesday night,” added Jason Sarlanis, president of Turner Networks, ID, & HLN, linear and streaming. “With ‘All Access,’ we are bringing that incredible audience a whole new way to experience the wrestling universe they love. We have a powerful partnership with Tony Khan and AEW. With this new series we are expanding the franchise in a way that invites viewers inside the world of wrestling like never before.”

Cole also had another big announcement. He’ll be returning to the ring the same night that All Access debuts.

Will you be watching AEW: All Access?

AEW Dynamite Results (2/22/23): Orange Cassidy Retains All-Atlantic Title Over Wheeler Yuta, Tony Khan and Adam Cole Make ‘Major’ Announcement

AEW‘s latest edition of Dynamite went down on (2/22/23) from the Footprint Center in Phoenix, Arizona! All Elite Wrestling President Tony Khan alongside Adam Cole made a ‘major’ announcement and Orange Cassidy retained the AEW All-Atlantic Championship over Wheeler Yuta!

Live Coverage

The show opens and it’s immediately time for our opening contest of the evening!

Orange Cassidy (C) vs. Wheeler Yuta — AEW All-Atlantic Championship

Yuta isn’t interested in Cassidy’s handshake before the match begins and here we go. A series of roll ups starts this one off but nobody can garner a three-count. Ring of Honor World Champion Claudio Castagnoli makes his way down to the ring to keep a closer eye on this one. Claudio slaps Yuta in the face to wake up his fellow Blackpool Combat Club stablemate and Yuta rushes back into the ring and plants Cassidy with a slam and bites the champion’s forehead. Yuta dumps Cassidy out of the ring and launches him into the barricade then the timekeeper’s area, and a ring post before sending him back into the ring. Yuta starts slapping Cassidy in the face after Cassidy starts no selling the challenger’s offense

Cassidy lands his patented low kicks then wallops Yuta with a drop-kick before sending him into the corner, where he starts pummeling Yuta face-first into the top turnbuckle. Yuta cracks Cassidy with a back-elbow then sends Cassidy tumbling to the outside. Yuta tosses Cassidy back into the ring and goes for the cover but the champion kicks out. Yuta sends Cassidy right back to the outside and dives through the ropes but Cassidy evades. Yuta doesn’t let his dive miss deter him and plants Cassidy back in the ring with a DDT followed by a brain-buster and goes for the cover but Cassidy lifts the shoulders. Yuta spits his gum out in Cassidy’s face and the champion is NOT happy and starts trading elbows with the challenger.

Cassidy sends Yuta to the apron and nails the challenger with a tornado DDT to the floor. Yuta comes roaring back and lands a pile-driver on the champion before going for the cover but Cassidy kicks out. Cassidy pops back up and drills Yuta with the Orange Punch and goes for the cover but Yuta lifts the shoulders at two-and-a-half! Cassidy plants Yuta with Beach Break and goes for another cover but Yuta kicks out yet again! Cassidy lands one more Orange Punch and Yuta is finally out and Cassidy gets the 1-2-3!

Winner – Orange Cassidy (C)

We then see Evil Uno backstage and the Dark Order member starts ranting about his opponent for tonight, former AEW World Champion Jon Moxley. ‘Hangman’ Adam Page comes in and Uno tells him that it’s time for the Dark Order to start standing up for themselves.

Ricky Starks makes his way down to the ring. Starks runs down just about the entire Jericho Appreciation Society and says that it’s pretty clear the Chris Jericho doesn’t want to have another match with him considering what happened the last time they faced each other (Starks won). Starks says he has an open contract for a match at next month’s ‘Revolution’ pay-per-view and out comes Chris Jericho! The leader of JAS says he knows that Starks is just trying to bait him into having another match and their feud won’t be over until he (Jericho) says it is. Peter Avalon interrupts and Jericho wallops him with a Judas Effect before coming down to the ring to meet Starks. Jericho ponders if he should face Starks at ‘Revolution’ and Starks says he doesn’t think Jericho can beat him, especially without the help of JAS. Jericho says he’ll ban JAS from ringside and signs the deal! We have a rematch for ‘Revolution’!

The Acclaimed (Anthony Bowens & Max Caster) (with Billy Gunn) vs. Lee Moriarty & Big Bill (with Stokely Hathaway)

Caster and Moriarty start this one off. Caster grounds Moriarty with an arm-drag but eats a big boot to the face from Moriarty for his troubles. Caster makes the tag to Bowens and The Acclaimed plant Moriarty with a double-slam and Bowens goes for the cover but Moriarty kicks out as we head to a commercial break. Back from the break and Bill is working over Bowens back inside of the ring. The AEW World Tag Team Champions, Austin and Colten Gunn make their way down to the ring and they attack their father, Billy Gunn before being ran off by The Acclaimed. Moriarty and Bowens are now the legal competitors and Moriarty cracks Bowens with a massive lariat and goes for the cover but Bowens kicks out. Moriarty goes for a super-kick but Bowens rolls him back but Moriarty kicks out. Bowens plants Moriarty with a slam, makes the tag to Caster, who goes up to the top rope and drills Moriarty with the Mic Drop for the 1-2-3!

Winners – The Acclaimed

After the match, Tony Schiavone comes to the stage and introduces Christian Cage. ‘Jungle Boy’ Jack Perry comes in right behind Cage and attacks his former idol. Perry mocks kicks dirt on Cage’s motionless body and exits. But Perry isn’t done, he returns with a pair of steel chairs and puts one under Cage’s head. Perry lifts the other chair but he can’t find it in himself to smash Cage with a con-chair-to and he stalls long enough for Cage to take advantage and low blow Perry. Cage cracks Perry with the chair and smashes Perry face-first into the chair six times to a chorus of boos from the Phoenix, Arizona crowd in attendance. Aubrey Edwards among other AEW officials come down and make Cage leave as they check on Perry.

We then see a recap of Wardlow’s comments when he was interviewed by Jim Ross, last week.

Saraya (with Toni Storm) vs. Skye Blue

Saraya sends Skye to the corner and unloads a bevy of kicks to start. Saraya dumps Skye out of the ring and Toni Storm plants her with a suplex on the outside as Saraya distracted referee, Aubrey Edwards. Saraya fires Skye into the barricade before sending her back into the ring. Saraya applies a head-lock but Skye launches herself off the ropes and has a head scissors submissions locked in on Saraya but Saraya plants Skye with a slam and goes for the cover but Skye kicks out. Saraya sends Skye into the corner and puts her on the top turnbuckle. Saraya looks for a super-plex, Skye knocks her back to the mat and lays Saraya out with a diving cross-body. Skye cracks Saraya with a step-up knee and a side kick to the head before going for the cover but Storm gets on the apron and distracts the referee. Skye knocks Storm off the apron but walks right into a super-kick from Saraya, who then locks in her signature double-arm submission and Skye has no choice but to tap out!

Winner – Saraya

After the match, Saraya and Toni Storm are about to spray Skye Blue with their green spray paint but the AEW Women’s World Champion Jamie Hayter, alongside Dr. Britt Baker D.M.D. rush the ring and make the save. Saraya and Storm spray paint a fan’s sign and scurry off…but Ruby Soho comes down to the stage. Soho locks eyes with Hayter and does the belt pose, signifying she’s coming for Hayter’s title as we head to a commercial break.

Back from the break and Bryan Danielson makes his way down to the ring. Bryan says the crowd sounds like they want him to win the AEW World Championship over MJF at ‘Revolution’, which garners a massive ‘YES!’ chant. Bryan says he’s going to do everything in his power to defeat MJF in two weeks but he first wants to address something that the champion said last week. Bryan says MJF said that he hates him but he’s the one who tried to put a bounty on his head and didn’t even want him to make it to ‘Revolution’ and hospitalized his idol William Regal but he’s the one who hates him? MJF’s music hits and out comes the AEW World Champion. MJF tells production to cut his music and says Bryan may have the fans fooled but he knows who Bryan truly is. MJF says he was thrown to the side by everyone he’s ever trusted…but then he met a girl, someone who changed the way he feels about the world. MJF said he got down on one knee and told that girl that he wanted to start a family with her and she left him.

The crowd pours in ‘you deserve it!’ chants and Bryan is laughing in the ring. MJF says now the only thing he can trust is the AEW World Championship, which is the only reason he hasn’t ‘grabbed a hand full of pills and called it a day’. MJF says everyone loves Bryan and admires him and MJF even starts a ‘YES!’ chant. MJF says Bryan has something he’ll never have…a family, beautiful wife, and two happy, healthy children, something Bryan takes for granted. MJF says he hates Bryan, but it’s not because of fans thinking Bryan is better than him, but because Bryan has had more concussions than anyone in professional wrestling history but he stills has stuck around the sport. MJF says every time Bryan steps into the ring, Bryan is showing that professional wrestling is more important than his wife and his children. MJF says Bryan is taking everything that he’d kill for, for granted. MJF says Bryan is no better than Bryan’s ‘drug addicted’ mentor, William Regal. MJF says Bryan will get the spotlight at ‘Revolution’ because that’s where he’s going to ‘punish’ Bryan for everything he’s taken for granted.

MJF looks directly into the camera and says he wants to speak to Bryan’s children. Bryan interrupts and says if MJF talks about his children, he’s going to ‘kick the sh*t’ out of him. MJF says hi to Bryan’s children and says at ‘Revolution’ he’s going to rip ‘dada’s’ arm right out of his socket and make sure that he can never play with them again. MJF says he’s going to make sure that ‘dada’ can’t ever pick them up again and says that he’s going to give ‘dada’ a present on March 5th…and that’s early onset CTE. Bryan attacks MJF and the brawl is on! Security rush the ring, much to the dismay of the crowd in attendance and security separates the two competitors. Bryan escapes and goes right back on the attack but they’re quickly separated once again. However, this time, MJF breaks loose and attacks the challenger but now AEW officials come down and assist the break-up. MJF exits the ring and Bryan escapes the ring and cracks MJF with a massive flying forearm which gets ‘holy sh*t!’ chants from the crowd and we head to a commercial break as security breaks up the brawl.

Lucha Bros vs. Top Flight vs. Aussie Open vs. Best Friends vs. RUSH & Preston Vance vs. Jay Lethal & Jeff Jarrett vs. Ariya Daivari & Tony Nese vs. John Silver & Alex Reynolds vs. The Butcher & The Blade vs. Matt Menard & Angelo Parker — AEW Revolution Tag Team Battle Royale

Nese and Daivari are eliminated right off the bat. Both members of Aussie Open are tosses out, Darius Martin is sent over the top rope and to the floor, and Blade is tossed out by John Silver. Butcher launches Reynolds to the outside and Penta super-kicks Vance over the top rope. RUSH dumps Penta over the top rope and Penta and Vance brawl on the outside. Fenix sends RUSH over the top rope but RUSH holds on to the bottom rope but Fenix walks the top rope and drills RUSH with a kick to the face and RUSH is eliminated. Butcher launches Silver to the outside, so now both members of Dark Order are eliminated. Danhausen gets in the ring but Matt Menard and Angelo Parker send him right back out of the ring. Buthcer dumps Chuck Taylor out, and Danhausen puts a curse on both Menard and Parker and they both jump over the top rope and eliminate themselves. Dante Martin, Rey Fenix, Trent Beretta, Butcher, Jay Lethal, and Jeff Jarrett are the final six with the only full team being Lethal and Jarrett as Martin, Fenix, Trent, and Butcher are all the final members of their respective teams.

Jarrett and Trent both exit the ring, but are not eliminated and they start brawling around the ringside area. Jarrett sends Trent back into the ring and they align with Butcher to attack Trent and we head to a commercial break. Back from the break and Jarrett and Lethal eliminate Butcher, Fenix, and Martin and now it’s down to Jarrett and Lethal vs. Trent. Lethal tries to toss Lethal out but Satnam Singh runs around the ring and tries to stop Trent from eliminating both Lethal and Jarrett. Both Lethal and Jarrett are falling off the apron but Singh pushes them both back into the ring at the same time. Jarrett tosses Trent over the top rope and Jarrett celebrates but Trent kept himself off the floor and spins back into the ring. Lethal tosses Trent right back over the top rope and celebrates with Jarrett but Orange Cassidy comes out from under the ring and pushes Trent back into the ring before his feet touch the floor. Danhausen helps Trent eliminate Lethal, Jarrett is yelling at Danhausen, and Trent tosses Jarrett over the top rope but Singh catches him and tosses Jarrett back into the ring. Jarrett plants Trent with a slam and sends Trent over the top rope and to the outside!

Winners – Jay Lethal and Jeff Jarrett

Jay Lethal and Jeff Jarrett join The Acclaimed and the AEW World Tag Team Champions, Gunn Club in the four-way tag match for the titles at ‘Revolution’ with the fourth and final team being determined next Wednesday night on Dynamite.

We then see a video package hyping up the House of Black, who make it clear that they’re going after The Elite and the AEW Trios World Titles. It’s announced that AEW President Tony Khan will make his ‘major’ announcement after the break.

Back from the break and Renee Paquette is backstage with AEW President Tony Khan. Tony introduces Adam Cole, who Tony says is better suited to actually make the announcement. Adam says he’s excited to be able to tell more of his story and he’ll be able to do that because every Wednesday night right after Dynamite, there will be a weekly one-hour show ‘AEW All Access’, which begins on Wednesday, March 1st at 10:00 p.m. EDT/7:00 p.m. PDT. Adam says the night ‘AEW All Access’ premieres on March 1, he’ll make his in-ring return on Dynamite.

We then see Jy Lethal, Jeff Jarrett, Sonjay Dutt, and Satnam Singh backstage celebrating Lethal and Jarrett’s win. AEW World Tag Team Champions Gunn Club come in and say it would be smart for them and Lethal and Jarrett to look out for one another before and at ‘Revolution’.

Excalibur and Tony Schiavone on commentary run down the card for this Friday’s edition of AEW Rampage and it’s time for our main event of the evening.

Jon Moxley vs. Evil Uno

Uno rushes Moxley the second the bell rings but Moxley sends Uno to the corner and starts unloading shots on the Dark Order member. Moxley is laying into Uno pretty heavy here and dumps Uno out of the ring. Uno barely beat the ten-count and gets into the ring but Moxley drills him with a kick to the face. Uno is busted open pretty badly under his mask and you can see the blood pouring out from his exposed eyes on the mask. Uno powers up and plants Moxley with a pile-driver, then a second one, and goes for the cover but Moxley kicks out. Moxley locks in the bulldog choke and the blood is literally squeezing out of Uno’s mask and referee Paul Turner waves this one off!

Winner – Jon Moxley (via referee stoppage)

After the match, Moxley won’t let go of the submission and Dark Order rushes the ring to save Uno. Claudio Castagnoli and Wheeler Yuta come down to even the odds and out comes ‘Hangman’ Adam Page! Moxley and Page brawl, Page cracks Moxley with some barbed wire and the brawl continues around the ringside area. Moxley is busted open pretty badly and the former AEW World Champion scurries off as the show goes off-the-air!

QTV is Coming to AEW

AEW has fans talking, and it’s not just about the important announcement that AEW President Tony Khan will make on this week’s episode of Dynamite as something new is coming to the promotion

All Elite Wrestling aired a vignette aired for “QTV” with the note that it is coming soon during the February 21 episode of AEW Dark.

The promotion didn’t provide any further details on what QTV is, including whether AEW will keep this exclusive to its weekly streaming shows (Dark and Dark: Elevation) or if it will make its way to their weekly television programs (Dynamite on TBS and Rampage on TNT). Check it out below: 

AEW Dark Results

  • Matt Sydal defeats Slim J (w/Ari Daivari, Jeeves Kay & Sonny Kiss)
  • Julia Hart defeats Devlyn Macabre
  • The WorkHorsemen (Anthony Henry & JD Drake) defeat Jay Malachi & Oliver Sawyer
  • The Renegades (Charlette Renegade & Robyn Renegade) defeat Lizzy Blair & Payton Blair
  • Preston Vance (w/Jose The Assistant) defeats Blanco Loco
  • Tony Deppen defeats Caleb Konley
  • The Iron Savages (Boulder & Bronson) defeat Chris Sandson & Terry Kid
  • Jora Johl & Rohit Raju defeat Bryce Cannon & Dale Springs
  • Emi Sakura defeats Billie Starkz
  • Brady Booker defeats Dak Draper
  • The Wingmen (Cezar Bononi, Peter Avalon & Ryan Nemeth) defeat Jarett Diaz, Jay Marte & Rich Adonis
  • Jeff Jarrett & Satnam Singh defeat The Boys (Brandon & Brent)
  • Trent Beretta defeats Tony Nese (w/Mark Sterling)

Roman Reigns Not Expected to Work Upcoming WWE PLE

Roman Reigns will seemingly miss a notable WWE premium live event this summer. 

For the first time in almost 21 years, the company will host a special from London in the United Kingdom with Money in the Bank from the O2 Arena on Saturday, July 1st. They will also hold a SmackDown episode from the same venue the night before. 

This will mark the first WWE special in London since May 2002 with that year’s Insurrextion event and just the second time that one of WWE’s ‘Big 5’ shows will be hosted outside of the US or Canada. The 2002 show was a PPV event that only aired in the UK. 

Roman Reigns to Miss MITB?

Tickets go on sale this week and fans have noticed that Reigns is not being advertised for the show on WWE’s website. He’s also not featured on the poster for the show either.

Kevin Owens, Drew McIntyre, Seth Rollins, Becky Lynch, Bianca Belair, Charlotte Flair, and Cody Rhodes are advertised for the show. It’s possible that Reigns will be added to the show later on. However, one would figure that WWE would want to advertise him when tickets go on sale to sell the most seats possible now. 

The last PLE event held in the UK by WWE was Clash at the Castle in Wales this past September, which saw him retain his Undisputed WWE Universal Championship against Drew McIntyre.

Reigns most recently retained the Undisputed WWE Universal Championship against Sami Zayn at Elimination chamber and is slated to take on Cody Rhodes at WrestleMania 39.

‘After Party’ Announced for After AEW Dynamite

AEW will be having an “after party” following this week’s episode of Dynamite that will feature a DJ set, appearances by wrestlers, and more.

All Elite Wrestling holds the show from the Footprint Center in Phoenix, AZ on Wednesday night. AEW’s Swerve Strickland announced on Twitter that rapper Mega Ran would be performing at the Cobra Arcade Bar after AEW Dynamite.

Ran does have a history with the promotion as he provided music for AEW in the past for two of its events – AEW Fyter Fest in 2019 and AEW Revolution in 2021. 

Ran performed his track “Going to the Garden” before being confronted by Bully Ray at the co-promoted ROH and NJPW event, G1 Supercard,  at Madison Square Garden in 2019.

The show will feature an “important announcement” from AEW President Tony Khan.

Rest of the Card

  • Jon Moxley vs. Evil Uno
  • Tag team battle royale for a spot in the Tag Team title match at Revolution
  • AEW All-Atlantic Champion Orange Cassidy vs. Wheeler Yuta
  • The Acclaimed vs. Lee Moriarty & Big Bill
  • Saraya vs. Skye Blue
  • Christian Cage interview with Tony Schiavone
  • Bryan Danielson promo

Mustafa Ali Responds to Fan Calling Him Worthless

WWE superstar Mustafa Ali has a nice response to a critical fan who called him worthless.

Ali has had an interesting career in WWE. He’s worked for the company for almost six years after making his debut participating in the Cruiserweight Classic. In his time with WWE, he has yet to win a championship, despite competing for the Cruiserweight, United States, and Intercontinental Championships.

Wrestling fans have called out WWE’s issues with finding decent storylines or opportunities for Ali in the past. He also requested his release from the company on Jan. 16, 2022, but it wasn’t granted. Since Triple H took over WWE as Head of Creative, Ali has seen more TV opportunities, and on the Feb. 20 episode of Monday Night Raw, he earned a win against Dolph Ziggler.

However, it hasn’t stopped some wrestling fans from criticizing his WWE career. After his win over Ziggler, a fan tweeted, “Like a bad penny. Just can’t get rid of this fucking guy. Only a penny has a small amount of value. Ali is still worthless.”

Ali responded to the tweet with positivity.

What’s Next for Mustafa Ali?

It’s unclear if WWE is allowing for Ali to have more opportunities to shine on the main roster. The win against Ziggler was his first on TV since he defeated The Miz on a Monday Night Raw episode on Oct. 31, 2022. During that time, he was working his way to challenging for the United States Championship.

It doesn’t seem like Ali will be chasing a WWE title anytime soon. The company is preparing for WrestleMania 39, with some men’s title matches, like the United States Championship, already reportedly decided on. Ali may miss out on WrestleMania this year, but WWE could still give him opportunities to build to be a contender for a title after the event.

Gunther on Brock Lesnar Dream Match, Roman Reigns’ Dominance

Gunther continues to ‘stir the pot’ regarding a potential showdown with Brock Lesnar.

The two warriors had a face-to-face confrontation at last month’s Royal Rumble premium live event. Fans in attendance went nuts at the sight of these two going at it. Neither man went on to win the Rumble. That honor was claimed by Cody Rhodes. However, Gunther did make history that night, setting the record for longest time spent in a Royal Rumble match.

The reigning Intercontinental champion has been talking about the moment ever since. During a recent appearance on the Battleground Podcast, he praised Lesnar as “fantastic” and a performer who stands out from everybody else.

Gunther: Brock Lesnar Match “Something I Really Want to Go For”

Gunther appeared on Wednesday’s edition of The Bump and was asked about his reaction to confrontation with Lesnar at the Royal Rumble.

“That moment? Let’s go! That was a super exciting moment for me, obviously Brock is a competitor that I was always impressed with. I’ve said it before, people call me the the ‘End Boss’ in situations..Brock might be my personal end boss, and I think that moment we had was all I needed out of it right now. Basically like a real life confirmation that the audience is up for that.”

The Ring General has a full place as the reigning Intercontinental champion. However, he’s not losing sight of this ‘bucket list’ match-up.

“Obviously, my focus right now is on being the Intercontinental champion. Going down the line, I think that’s something I really want to go for, being in the ring with Brock one-on-one.”

Gunther on Roman Reigns

Gunther also commented on the top star in professional wrestling, Roman Reigns.

He said Reigns has been a dominant champion and is impressed with the Tribal Chief. For all of his achievements, Reigns going to “fall hard” when he does get toppled – and he may be the man to knock Reigns off his perch.

“Let’s see who’s going to be able to end his reign and The Bloodline hasn’t faced us yet, so…”

Cesar Duran Teases Big Plans for Major League Wrestling

When Cesar Duran arrived in Major League Wrestling (MLW) in the summer of 2021, it didn’t take long for his presence to be felt. Fans knew he would take the unique opportunity to use his prior business experience in Boyle Heights and the Lucha Underground Temple for a new company.

 The former Dario Cueto signed on in the role of MLW matchmaker, as well as owner and proprietor of Azteca Underground. A brand of Azteca Lucha that he plans to grow stronger. Duran teased in a recent interview that the ruthless mogul looks to bring in more familiar faces. 

“They are going to make this show something that will take the audience from other promotions very fast. You wait and see,” he said. “That’s what I’m looking forward to. We are having a big component of lucha libre to MLW. The audience will love it. I’m trying to put more lucha libre style into the mix. 

It’s hard to believe next year will mark 10 years since Lucha Underground arrived on the scene. Duran came in from an acting background and, admittedly, zero pro wrestling experience and minimal product knowledge. 

“Immediately, it caught my attention,” he said, “It’s like a bunch of people putting their lives at risk for our enjoyment. Beat that. I started to get a lot of respect for the wrestlers because people don’t know what they have to go through. Then unfortunately we had an incident where Hijo del Perro Aguayo died at the tapings. For me, that was life-transforming. From then on, it became like a religion.” 

Getting that behind-the-scenes perspective really opened Duran’s eyes to this new world. His openness to listen and learn attributed to his success. He built an organic connection to the audience as a popular, yet extremely villainous figure.  Elements of Cueto could certainly be seen in Duran, but for the performer, they are also different in ways. 

“All I learned about wresting I did through Dario Cueto and Lucha Underground,” he said. “… This character is not Dario Cueto. Cesar Duran has his own visions. I think Dario Cueto was more devilish. I was literally the devil reincarnated.” 

Duran may be somewhat more grounded, at least from what we’ve seen now. Yet he is not above backdoor dealings onscreen. For the star, there are other similarities between one show’s atmosphere and the other. He gets the same sense that everyone working to produce the events and programming is part of a big family. One that continues to get bigger with the addition of more talent including former coworkers like the returning John Hennigan. The popular wrestler joins his wife and former LU alum Taya Valkyrie. 

“I feel like I grew up with them,” Duran added. “…Everyone on Lucha Underground wants to come with us, even those from WWE. When they knew I joined MLW they called. I think you know who I’m talking about.” 

MLW continues to grow as a new era recently began with MLW Underground joining the Reelz. There is excitement felt backstage. “You get the feeling everyone wants to make this a big thing,” Duran added. There is a sense on his end that this is only the beginning for the company, saying “I think it’s going to go to big places.” 

Duran is happy to be a part of the team, bringing his diverse acting resume to the table. His experience no doubt helps when working with new and emerging talent. 

“Before shooting a scene I always share a background story we may have,” he said. “Moments or something that may have happened before, even when it’s not in the script. I like to share that with them because then they get in the mood without knowing it. Then when the camera is rolling, they are present…”

Duran believes MLW stars including champ Alexander Hammerstone could do well in Hollywood because of their expansive abilities to entertain and tell stories. He himself works on projects along with other MLW dealings. In fact, Duran took time from shooting Mayans M.C. for this very interview. He’ll also play a boarding school principal for an upcoming summer project. 

“Whoever is a fan of wrestling when I get to a set they are, ‘Oh my god.’ They want t a picture or something. There are big stars on sets…the ones that do follow are very happy they see me on set. And I’m very happy to see them around.”

MLW Underground airs at 10 p.m. ET Tuesdays on Reelz. MLW Fusion airs at 8 p.m. ET Thursdays on Pro Wrestling TV

Tony Khan’s Big Announcement is an “Exciting Development” for AEW

AEW President Tony Khan says he’s excited to deliver some big news on Wednesday’s AEW Dynamite. He teased that it’s something that will be “great for the company” and has given a hint about what it’s about.

Dynamite will take place from Phoenix, Arizona just weeks before Revolution, the company’s next pay-per-view event scheduled for Saturday, March 5.

AEW is advertising a number of matches and segments for the broadcast, including:

  • Jon Moxley vs. Evil Uno
  • Orange Cassidy defends the AEW All-Atlantic Championship against ROH Pure Champion Wheeler Yuta
  • A Tag Team Battle Royale to determine who challenges the Gunn Glob at Revolution
  • Saraya vs. Skye Blue
  • The Acclaimed vs. Big Bill & Lee Moriarty
  • We’ll hear from Bryan Danielson, the #1 contender to MJF’s AEW World Championship
  • Christian Cage speaks with Tony Schiavone about his AEW return

TK spoke with the Phoenix New Times to hype Dynamite and continued to hype up this mystery revelation.

Tony Khan’s Big Announcement

When asked about the big announcement, Khan told Benjamin Leatherman of the Phoenix New Times, “Hah. Well, I can’t tell you right now, but it’s something I’m very excited about and it’s great for the company.”

That’s not very substantive, but the ‘hint’ came when Khan was asked about the possibility of AEW collaborating with New Japan Pro Wrestling again for another Forbidden Door PPV.

Without answering the Forbidden Door question directly, he circled back to the announcement.

“There are a lot of exciting things in the near future for AEW,” said Khan. “All I can say is we have an important announcement coming at this show in Phoenix. And it’s an exciting development for the company, and I’m excited to share it with the fans in Phoenix and all over the world.”

The Undertaker Nearly Lost his Eye Due to an Injury

The Undertaker has dealt with his fair share of injuries throughout his wrestling career. 

The WWE Hall of Famer recently detailed how he suffered a concussion, a broken nose, and issues with his vision in a match with Rey Mysterio thanks to Myster’s butt crushing his face. 

During an appearance on the Hawk vs Wolf podcast, the legendary wrestler explained how he suffered orbital bone damage during a WWE match with Mabel in 1995. This is where he revealed that if he got hit in the head again there was a good chance he could’ve lost his eye. 

“The doctor goes, ‘you’ve lost about 50 percent of your orbital floor’. ‘Excuse me?’ ‘You need to go home and find an ophthalmologist and a surgeon’. Come to find out, I ended up losing 90% of my orbital floor. My optic nerve is setting on a jagged piece of bone. If I got hit on the right side of my head again, there is a good chance I would have lost my eye. Took two surgeons, they go in, take out all the bone fragments, and they put in a fake one.”

Rey Mysterio’s Backside

Several years later, Taker found himself wrestling Mysterio in May 2010 on an episode of SmackDown in a World Heavyweight Title number one contender match. Taker took damage when Rey hit a senton move. 

“Rey Mysterio, tiny guy, sweetheart of a guy, he ended up jumping off the top rope, and his ass was supposed to hit me in the chest, but it hit me right in the face. It was a bony ass. Bony ass, right on the bridge of my nose. He lands, I have all of his weight on my head, I hit the mat and blew out the other one. I broke my nose and I was concussed. It’s hard being injured by an anus. My nose was broke, I fixed my nose right there, I just squeezed my nose back. The second one, to this day and it’s probably been 15 years, I still have double vision”.

Because of the injury, Taker had to take three months off and couldn’t compete for the World title as expected. 

H/T to Fightful for the transcript